Julian Polaris was quoted in InsideHealthPolicy on the White House’s consideration to use Medicaid 1115 waivers to expand access to abortion and other reproductive care for individuals living in abortion-hostile states.
According to the article, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ authority to approve Medicaid funding as a “cost not otherwise matchable” could allow it to treat transportation for reproductive health services as a targeted benefit, similar to how it has authorized funding for other services for populations that otherwise would not qualify for this funding. “I suspect Secretary Becerra has this provision in mind for states that seek Medicaid funding to support cross-state access to reproductive health services,” said Polaris. “Although state Medicaid programs typically limit eligibility to state residents, under this ‘costs not otherwise matchable’ authority, CMS could potentially approve a demonstration that covers travel or clinical services for non-residents.”
Read the full article here.